Caelestis

Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Maybe the Dragon isn't so Bad After All...

The Gramores pulled me back to the jail cell a different way than we had come. There were many doors on the right and left of me. What's in all those doors? I wondered. One of the doors ahead of us was opened and I leaned forward a little to catch a glimpse of what was in it. I gasped.

Zashnyx was asleep in the dark room. Chains bound him to the floor and I felt bad for him. He looked up when he saw us and his fiery eyes looked straight into mine. The Gramore holding me whacked my head with the back of his hand and laughed.

"Walk! You fool!" the Gramore with him laughed too. Zashnyx growled and stood up. He lunged toward the Gramores but the chains on his feet held him fast for a few seconds. That didn't stop him. He ripped the chains out of the ground and charged at us. The Gramores cowered on the floor and I backed into a corner. I watched with horror as Zashnyx ripped the Gramores to pieces and flung them to the other side of the hallway. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I heard his slow and steady breathing and turned to look at Zashnyx from around the corner.

He stood straight and tall and his black scales shone brilliantly in the torchlight. His red eyes glowed and then turned to a soft black.

"Come out, Princess," he said. "I will not hurt you." I took a step around the corner despite my inner arguments. Zashnyx bowed and nodded his head.

"Why...why did you kill...your own soldiers?" I asked him.

"I hate it when the Gramores are cruel to the prisoners here," the dragon replied. "They always find some way to make fun of them ignoring my form of a punishment. Gramores are stupid creatures."

"Thank you," I said and took a step closer to Zashnyx. Not knowing why, I trusted this dragon even though he worked for Lord Ragus.

"You should get back to the jail cell," the dragon ordered. "I'll take you there." I followed Zashnyx to the dungeon in silence. Every Gramore we passed cowered with fear. Zashnyx just held his head up higher and walked on.

We arrived at the cell and he turned to leave. I walked into the jail cell that the Gramore on duty had opened for me.

*&*

Zanzibar flew over the waterfall and spotted his father's herd grazing below him. He galloped to his father's side and snorted.

Yes, son? Arêgêis said.

The Princess has been captured by the Gramores and the battle is still going on! Zanzibar gasped. I wanted to know if you would help her mother and I save her from Lord Ragus' castle. We cannot do it alone. Arêgêis looked at his herd. There were several stallions that would gladly help him. He whinnied and five muscular stallions walked to him and bowed their heads.

The Princess has been captured by Lord Ragus, he explained, and you need to get her back safely and quickly. You five will accompany the Queen, Zanzibar, and Ramon on a mission to save her. The five stallions nodded. You will take orders from my son first and then me. Do you understand? It will be dangerous but I have faith that you can do it. The stallions nodded again and looked to Zanzibar.

What are your names?

This is Kabardin. He motioned to a dun Pegasus who had stepped forward and bowed. He is an intelligent Pegasus and could help you with any decision you may have to make.